1 Samuel 2:29 KJV, “Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?”
Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels, Vol 1, 1870, Ch 36, p. 400, Steam Press, Battle Creek, MI: “When Eli was high priest, he exalted his sons to the priesthood. Eli alone was permitted to enter the most holy once a year. His sons ministered at the door of the tabernacle, and officiated in the slaying of the beasts, and at the altar of sacrifice. They continually abused this sacred office. They were selfish, covetous, gluttonous, and profligate. God reproved Eli for his criminal neglect of family discipline. Eli reproved his sons, but did not restrain them. And after they were placed in the sacred office of priesthood, Eli heard of their conduct in defrauding the children of Israel in their offerings, also their bold transgressions of the law of God, and their violent conduct, which caused Israel to sin.”
EG White, p. 401 writes, “Here is a standing rebuke to parents, who are professed followers of Christ, who neglect to restrain their children, but merely entreat them, like Eli; and who say, ‘Why do ye so wickedly ?’ but do not decidedly restrain them. Such suffer God’s cause to be dishonored, because they do not exercise that authority which belongs to them in order to restrain wickedness.”
EG White, p. 404 continues, “A messenger from the army ran to Shiloh and informed Eli that his two sons had been slain. He could bear this with a degree of calmness, for he had reason to expect it. But when the messenger added, ‘And the ark of God is taken,’ Eli wavered in anguish upon his seat, and fell backward and died. He shared the wrath of God which came upon his sons. He was guilty in a great measure of their transgressions, because he had criminally neglected to restrain them.”
The Ark of God contains the Ten Commandments. It is a sacred chest and a holy symbol of God’s presence because His Law is deposited there. They are taught to trust in the Only True God and keep His Commands. The priests, Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, transgressed the Law of God. Thus causing Israel to sin, be defeated by the Philistines, and were slain.
EG White, p. 404 reveals, “The capture of the ark of God by the Philistines was considered the greatest calamity which could befall Israel. The wife of Phinehas, as she was about to die, named her child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken.'”
Hebrews 10:16 KJV, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”
Just like the Israelites, God’s professed remnant people transgressed the Law of God by worshipping Triune gods, instituting philosophical idols, serving & loving money, polluting the Sabbath, dishonoring parents, animosity, lust, dishonesty, slanderers, and avarice. The root of which is selfishness.
Ezekiel 36:26 KJV, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
The Spirit of God had left the church because they kick the Son of God out.
Let us deposit the Ten Commandments in the chests of our hearts today while the chest that contains the Ark of God is secreted. Christ obeyed perfectly His Father’s Law. We can do the same.
Sincerely in the Blessed Hope.